/ 


.5 

7 

a 


HISTORICAI,    SKETCH, 


AL    SKETCH 


K!>Ml  M>  R  IIAI.SKY 


)F    THK 


FIFTEENTH    REGIMENT 


MilV    II-KSKY    VOI.rXTI-l-KS. 


HKKiAPK.    FIItST    DIVISION,    SIXTH    Coin's. 


TKENTON*.    N.  J.; 

Wn.  .S.  SHARP,  I'RINTKR  A*n  STKRF.OTVPF.R. 
1880. 


HISTORICAL    SKETCH 


OF   THE 


FIFTEENTH    REGIMENT 


NEW  JERSEY  VOLUNTEERS. 


FIRST    BRIGADE,    FIRST   DIVISION,    SIXTH    CORPS. 


TJRENTON,   N.  J.: 

WM.  S.  SHARP,  PRINTER  AND  STEREOTYPER. 
1880. 


C  - 


SKETCH 


Every  regiment  of  soldiers  has  a  character  of  its  own.  This 
"  character  "  is  the  sum  of  the  elements  of  individual  character, 
and  the  circumstances  affecting  its  organization  and  management. 

The  Fifteenth  Regiment  New  Jersey  Volunteers  was  organized 
at  Flemington.  It  was  recruited  in  the  "  hill  country  "  of  the 
State — three  companies  from  Sussex,  two  each  from  Warren,  Hun- 
terdon  and  Morris,  and  one  from  Somerset.  There  being  no 
large  cities  in  this  district,  it  was  composed  almost  wholly  of 
"  freeholders  "  or  the  sons  of  freeholders — young  men  who  were 
well  known  in  the  communities  from  which  they  came,  who  had  a 
good  name  at  home  to  adorn  or  lose,  and  friends  at  home  to  feel 
a  pride  in  their  good  behavior  or  suffer  shame  at  the  reverse. 
They  were  an  educated  and  intelligent  class  of  men,  many  of  them 
of  liberal  education  and  in  course  of  training  for  the  higher  walks 
of  business  or  professional  life.  They  were  men  of  a  high  tone  of 
moral  character  and  of  that  sturdy  and  tenacious  patriotism  which 
the  history  of  every  country,  and  especially  of  our  own,  shows  to 
reside  more  especially  in  the  fixed  population  connected  with  the 
soil  as  its  owners  or  tillers.  Beared  in  the  mountain  air  they  were 
generally  of  vigorous  and  healthy  physique.  The  writer  saw 
much  of  Union  soldiers  during  four  years  of  service — regulars, 
volunteers  and  militia — and  hopes  he  may  be  permitted  to  say, 
without  invidious  comparison,  that  this  regiment  was  marked  for 
the  high  intellectual  and  moral  character  of  its  enlisted  men. 
Those  accustomed  to  the  management  and  handling  of  troops 
know  what  this  means  on  the  battle  field  and  in  active  campaign. 
It  was  largely  officered  with  men  who  had  already  seen  a  year  of 
active  service,  and  who  subjected  it  at  once  to  a  rigid  discipline. 

It  was  mustered  into  service  on  the  25th  of  August,  1862.  Two 
days  later  it  moved  to  "  the  front,"  at  the  perilous  moment  when 
Pope  and  Lee  were  in  their  death-grapple  about  Bull  Run.  Pope 
being  defeated,  and  the  rebels  marching  for  Pennsylvania,  the 
capital  was  to  be  more  completely  fortified  on  the  west  and  north, 
and  prepared  for  possible  attack.  The  first  duty  assigned  the 
regiment  was  to  erect  fortifications  at  Tenallytown,  Md.,  at  which 


M219184 


they  toiled  day  and  night  for  about  one  month.  On  the  30th  of 
September  it  proceeded  to  join  the  victorious  Army  of  the  Poto 
mac  on  the  battle-field  of  Antietam,  and,  by  special  request  of  the 
corps,  division  and  brigade  commanders,  was  assigned  to  the  First 
Brigade,  First  Division,  Sixth  Corps — the  already-veteran  "  First 
Jersey  Brigade."  It  afforded  much  gratification  and  a  home-like 
feeling,  to  be  brigaded  with  five  other  regiments  of  the  same  State. 

Whilst  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  was  being  re-fitted  and  sup 
plied  for  the  fall  campaign,  the  regiment  enjoyed,  in  the  midst  of 
picket  and  other  duties,  a  much-needed  month  of  opportunity  for 
drill  and  discipline  at  Bakersville,  Maryland — a  short  time,  as  all 
experience  will  attest,  to  convert  into  "  soldiers  "  a  thousand  men 
fresh  from  the  untrammeled  freedom  of  civil  life,  strangers  to  the 
rigor  of  militanr  discipline,  the  profession  of  arms,  and  the  art  of 
war.  How  industriously,  willingly,  and  effectively  that  month  was 
employed,  the  subsequent  history  of  the  regiment  fully  attests. 

From  this  time  forward,  to  the  close  of  the  war,  its  history  is 
that  of  the  famous  "  Sixth  Corps  " — than  which,  probably,  no  corps 
ever  did  more  hard  fighting  and  effective  service,  or  achieved  a 
more  enviable  fame. 

Its  official  fighting  record,  as  made  up  by  the  Adjutant-General 
of  the  State,  is  as  follows  : 

Fredericksburg,  Va.,  Dec.  13  and  14,  1862;  Fredericksburg, 
Va.,  May  3, 1863;  Salem  Heights,  Va.,  May  3  and  4, 1863  ;  Frank 
lin's  Crossing,  Va.,  June  6  to  14,  1863;  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  2 
and  3,  1863;  Fairfield,  Pa.,  July  5,  1863;  Funktown,  Md.,  July  10, 
1863;  Kappahannock  Station,  Va.,  Oct.  12,  1863;  Eappahannock 
Station,  Va.,  Nov.  7,  1863  ;  Mine  Bun,  Va.,  Nov.  30,  1863  ; 
Wilderness,  Va.,  May  5  to  7,  1864  ;  Spottsylvania,  Va.,  May  8  to 
11,  1864  ;  Spottsylvania  C.  H.,  Va.,  May  12  to  16,  1864 ;  North 
and  South  Anna  Biver,  May  24,  1864;  Hanover  C.  H.,  Va., 
May  29,  1864  ;  Tolopotomy  Creek,  Va.,  May  30  and  31,  1864  ; 
Cold  Harbor,  Va.,  June  1  to  1.1,  1864  ;  Before  Petersburg,  Va., 
June  16  to  22, 1864  ;  Weldon  Bailroad,  Va.,  June  23, 1864  ;  Snick 
er's  Gap,  Va.,  July  18,  1864  ;  Strasburg,  Va.,  Aug.  15,  1864  ; 
Winchester,  Va.,  Aug.  17,  1864  ;  Charlestown,  Va.,  Aug.  21,  1864 ; 
Opequan,  Va.,  Sept.  19,  1864  ;  Fisher's  Hill,  Va.,  Sept.  21  and  22, 
1864 ;  New  Market,  Va.,  Sept.  24, 1864  ;  Mount  Jackson,  Va.,  Sept. 
25,  1864;  Cedar  Creek  and  Middletown,  Va.,  Oct.  19,  1864; 
Hatcher's  Bun,  Va.,  Feb.  5,  1865 ;  Fort  Steedman,  Va.,  March  25, 
1865  ;  Capture  of  Petersburg,  Va.,  April  2,  1865  ;  Sailors'  Creek. 


Va.,  April  6,  1865 ;  Farmville,  Va.,  April  7,  1865 ;  Lee's  Surren 
der,  (Appornattox,  Va.,)  April  9,  1865. 

In  the  operations  and  battles  of  a  large  army  or  corps,  a  single 
regiment  is  so  swallowed  up  in  the  general  mass;  its  movements 
and  conduct,  under  fire  and  out  of  range,  are  so  intermingled 
with  those  of  many  others,  that,  to  write  the  history  of  one  is  to 
write  that  of  the  army  or  corps  as  a  whole.  This  would  take  vol 
umes  ;  it  cannot  be  done  in  these  brief  notes.  It  must  be  assumed 
that  the  glowing  pages  which  record  the  battles  of  the  Kebellion 
are  familiar  to  all ;  and  surely  he  is  a  doubtful  patriot  who  has  not 
followed  them  with  deep  and  absorbing  interest.  We  can  here 
only  glance  at  the  regiment  at  some  of  those  points  in  its  career 
at  which  it  was  in  some  way  distinguished  from  the  general  mass, 
by  position,  or  by  special  acts  of  endurance  and  courage. 

It  received  its  baptism  of  fire  at  the  disastrous  battle  of 
Fredericksburg,  December  13th,  1862.  On  the  morning  of  the 
12th,  the  division  crossed  the  Rappahannock  at  "  Franklin's 
Crossing,"  below  the  town,  and  advanced  over  the  broad  plain 
toward  the  high  ground  beyond,  under  cover  of  a  dense  fog,  to 
"  find  the  enemy,"  whose  position,  below  the  town,  could  not  be 
seen — the  Fifteenth  on  the  right  of  the  line.  Just  before  reaching 
"Deep  Eun,"  the  enemy  discovered  the  advance,  and  opened 
with  their  heavy  guns  from  the  Heights  to  the  right  and  front. 
The  long  line  of  a  full  regiment  did  not  waver  in  the  least,  though 
new  to  the  field  of  battle,  and  saluted  suddenly,  for  the  first  time, 
with  the  terrifying  explosions  of  shells  from  guns  of  large  calibre. 
Carefully  observed,  they  seemed  to  be  nerved  and  animated  by 
the  presence  of  danger.  Patriotic  resolve  and  high  moral  courage — 
which  had  brought  them  to  the  field — mantled  to  their  brows. 
Their  commander  then  and  ever  after  knew  and  trusted  his  com 
mand.  A  few  men  were  wounded,  but  none  killed,  as  the  writer 
remembers.  Arrived  at  the  ravine,  it  was  permitted  to  remain 
under  its  cover  during  the  balance  of  the  day,  whilst  a  large  army 
was  getting  into  position,  and  plans  of  attack  matured.  Before 
light  on  the  morning  of  the  13th,  it  was  moved  out  of  the  ravine 
and  silently  deployed  as  a  skirmish  line,  under  cover  of  the  dark 
ness  and  fog,  so  near  to  the  rebel  skirmish  line  as  to  distinctly 
hear  their  conversation.  Such  close  contact,  face  to  face  with  an 
armed  enemy,  gave  rise  to  thoughts  and  emotions  new  to  them, 
and  the  gradual  lifting  of  the  darkness  and  fog  was  watched  with 
anxious  faces;  but  not  a  man  showed  signs  of  flinching.  At  the 


coming  of  light  their  sharp  and  obstinate  skirmish  fire  opened  the 
first  battle  in  which  they  took  part.  The  memorable  conflict  of 
the  day  swept  chiefly  to  the  right  and  left  of  their  long  line,  but 
involved  four  of  the  left  companies,  which  participated  in  the 
charge  at  that  point  with  the  Fourth  and  Twenty-third,  and  suf 
fered  serious  loss.  During  the  following  night  the  drum-corps 
carried  rations  from  the  trains,  several  miles  away,  across  the 
river,  and  distributed  them  along  the  line,  replenishing  the 
exhausted  haversacks — a  hard  night's  work,  and  a  kind  of  drum 
ming  for  which  they  felt  they  had  not  enlisted;  but  they  had  new 
lessons  in  music  yet  to  learn.  In  the  morning  the  regiment  was 
relieved  from  its  advanced  position  by  the  One  Hundred  and 
Twenty-first  New  York,  under  a  galling  fire.  The  battle  was  over, 
however,  and  the  army  re-crossed  the  river. 

The  regiment  went  into  camp  near  by,  at  White  Oak  Church, 
and,  after  participating  in  the  fruitless  expedition  known  as  Burn- 
side's  "  Mud  March,"  spent  a  dismal  winter.  Typhoid  fever,  the 
enemy  which  no  army  can  conquer,  broke  out  with  distressing 
virulence,  and  a  considerable  number  died  of  disease.  In  every 
regiment  there  is  a  somewhat  uniform  number  of  constitutions 
which  cannot  resist  the  privations,  hardships,  excitements  and 
exposures  of  vigorous  warfare.  These  must  be  eliminated  by 
death  and  permanent  disability.  In  some  cases  the  process  is 
gradual;  in  others,  sudden  and  rapid,  as  was  the  case  with  the 
Fifteenth,  owing  to  its  being  suddenly  taken  from  civil  life  and 
thrust  at  once  into  the  severest  service,  sustained  by  excitements 
and  courage  until  the  campaign  was  over,  and  then  dropped  into 
a  muddy  camp  in  very  inclement  weather.  It  was  ever  afterward 
free  from  sickness  to  a  marked  degree. 

In  the  May  following  came  the  "  Chancellorsville "  campaign 
under  Hooker.  The  part  assigned  to  the  Sixth  Corps  was  to  take 
the  Heights  of  Fredericksburg,  and  then  strike  the  enemy  in  flank 
and  rear,  and  unite  with  the  main  army,  which  crossed  the  river 
at  the  upper  fords.  Crossing  the  river  at  the  same  place  as  before, 
on  the  morning  of  the  3d  of  May,  the  Fifteenth  was  placed  on 
the  extreme  left  of  the  corps  line,  to  support  a  battery,  and,  with 
the  balance  of  the  brigade,  to  hold  in  check  a  large  force  of  the 
enemy  formed  on  his  right,  to  strike  the  corps  in  flank  and  rear, 
as  it  attacked  the  Heights,  which  was  effectively  done  by  a  firm 
stand,  though  with  considerable  loss.  The  balance  of  the  corps 
having  carried  the  Heights  by  a  gallant  charge,  it  marched 


9 

through  the  town,  over  the  Heights,  and  up  the  plank  road  to  Salem 
Church,  a  few  miles  from  Chancellorsville.  Here  it  encountered 
a  large  part  of  the  rebel  army,  diverted  to  its  front  after  a  success 
ful  checking  of  Hooker.  A  determined  assault  was  delivered,  but 
failed  to  drive  them  from  their  well-chosen  position.  The  Fif 
teenth  charged  gallantly  through  a  wood,  pushed  the  enemy 
some  distance  before  them,  and  held  the  position  until  ordered  to 
retire  about  dark,  the  general  attack  having  failed  of  its  purpose. 
The  night  was  spent  in  caring  for  and  removing  the  wounded. 
It  is  thought  the  Fifteenth  was  one  of  the  very  few  regiments 
which  succeeded  in  getting  off  all  their  wounded,  which  was 
mainly  due  here,  as  afterward,  to  one  of  the  most  brave  and 
faithful  chaplains,  who  was  ever  with  his  men,  in  battle  as  in 
camp,  and  serving  them  with  sleepless  and  tireless  vigilance. 
The  next  day  was  spent  in  constant  maneuvering  before  a  rapidly 
concentrating  enemy,  and  during  the  night  the  corps  was  ordered 
to  re-cross  the  river,  at  Banks'  Ford.  After  another  day  spent  in 
drawing  the  artillery  and  pontoon  trains  through  the  mud  to  the 
high  ground,  it  returned  to  its  old  camp,  after  the  loss  of  many 
of  its  bravest  and  best  men  and  officers. 

At  Gettysburg — the  decisive  victory  of  the  war — during  the 
pursuit  of  the  flying  rebel  army  through  Pennsylvania,  Maryland, 
and  down  the  Katoctin  valley,  back  to  the  line  of  the  Rappahan- 
nock ;  again  on  the  advance  up  the  Orange  and  Alexandria  Kail- 
road,  nearly  to  its  crossing  of  the  Rapidan,  (where  the  Fifteenth 
reached  the  farthest  point  of  any  regiment) ;  back  to  Centreville 
by  a  rapid  retreat  parallel  with  the  enemy  attempting  to  turn  the 
Union  flank ;  again  forward  to  the  battle  of  Rappahannock 
Station,  through  the  futile  Mine  Run  expedition,  and  back  to 
winter-qua,rters  at  Brandy  Station — the  regiment  bore  an  equal 
and  always  honorable  part  with  the  other  regiments  of  the  corps, 
doing  its  share  of  the  fighting,  and  suffering  its  share  of  the  loss. 
Nothing  is  remembered,  however,  which  distinguished  it  from 
the  balance  of  the  corps,  except,  perhaps,  that  it  covered  the 
return  from  the  third  crossing  at  Fredericksburg — (a  demonstra 
tion  made  by  the  First  Division  in  the  early  part  of  June,  to 
develop  the  movement  of  Lee  toward  Pennsylvania) — and  took 
up  the  pontoon  bridge  in  the  face  of  the  enemy — a  delicate  and 
difficult  service,  executed  without  loss,  in  a  driving  rain. 

The  winter  of  186374,  at  Brandy  Station,  was  diversified  by 
severe  picket  and  fatigue  duty,  and  embraced  an  expedition  by 


10 

the  brigade  to  Madison  Court  House,  as  a  diversion  in  favor  of 
Kilpatrick's  celebrated  raid  to  the  fortifications  of  Kichmond. 
The  men,  under  the  lead  of  the  chaplain,  built  a  large  and  com 
modious  house  of  logs,  in  which  religious  services — never  inter 
mitted,  when  possible  to  be  held — and  literary  exercises  were 
held.  This  was  a  great  help  to  the  religious  and  moral  tone  of 
the  regiment,  as  well  as  conducive  to  its  military  effectiveness. 
A  "  Church  "  of  one  hundred  and  thirty  members  was  organized, 
and  forty-six  men  were  hopefully  converted  to  the  Christian  faith. 
The  services  were  interesting  and  solemn,  and  were  attended  by 
many  even  from  distant  camps.  Two-thirds  of  the  members  of 
this  little  church,  doubly  militant,  afterward  fell  in  action,  bravely 
battling  for  their  country  and  their  God.  Who  will  question  the 
usefulness  and  value  of  a  zealous  religious  instructor  in  the  ranks 
of  an  army  in  the  field? 

On  the  4th  of  May,  1864,  the  army  broke  camp  for  the  long  and 
bloody  campaign  from  the  Rapidan  to  Petersburg,  and  the  5th, 
6th,  and  7th  found  the  regiment  engaged,  with  the  balance  of  the 
army,  in  "  the  Wilderness,"  doing  its  full  duty  with  the  regiments 
which  fought  by  its  side.  On  the  8th,  about  noon,  at  the  head  of 
the  corps,  it  reached  the  front  of  Spottsylvania  C.  H.,  after  a 
long  night  march,  by  a  circuitous  route.  Warren,  whose  corps 
(the  Fifth)  had  moved  by  a  more  direct  route,  and  reached  the 
position  first,  had  met  with  a  check.  He  sent  to  Sedgwick — the 
grand  old  leader  of  the  Sixth — for  aid,  and  the  Jersey  brigade 
was  sent  to  his  assistance.  After  some  maneuvering,  the  Fif 
teenth,  with  the  Third,  (then  little  more  than  a  detachment,  and 
used  as  a  skirmish  line,)  was  selected  to  make  an  assault  on  the 
enemy,  and  develop  his  position  and  strength.  No  charge  was 
ever  more  gallantly  delivered.  With  two  armies  looking  on,  it 
advanced  across  an  open  field;  when  within  about  three  hundred 
yards  of  the  front  of  the  wood  in  which  the  enemy  was  posted,  it 
fixed  bayonets,  and  with  a  line  of  glittering  steel  as  steady  as  on 
dress-parade,  dashed  up  to  the  rebel  position,  to  find  them 
strongly  entrenched  and  in  full  force.  As  far  as  rifle-shot  could 
reach,  upon  each  flank  they  opened  upon  the  devoted  little  band. 
Notwithstanding  the  deadly  fire,  it  drove  the  enemy  out  of  the 
work  in  its  front,  captured  two  prisoners,  and,  to  save  annihila 
tion,  was  ordered  by  its  commander  to  retire.  One  hundred  and 
one  of  its  brave  officers  and  men  were  left  upon  the  field,  killed  or 


11 

wounded.  It  may  be  doubted  if  a  more  perilous  "  forlorn  hope  " 
was  ever  more  daringly  executed. 

The  Sixth  Corps  took  position  on  the  left  of  the  line  as  it  was 
formed,  its  lamented  commander  falling  on  the  same  spot  at 
which  one  of  the  color-bearers  of  the  Fifteenth  had  but  just  fallen; 
and  on  the  afternoon  of  the  9th  the  regiment  was  detached,  with 
the  First,  to  turn  the  right  flank  of  the  enemy  and  gain  possession 
of  a  cross-roads.  After  wading  a  deep  swamp,  and  a  sharp 
brush  withthe  rebel  skirmishers,  the  cross-roads  was  under  their 
guns,  and  they  were  separated  some  distance  from  the  main  army. 
The  next  morning,  being  ordered  to  develop  the  flank  of  the 
enemy's  main  line,  the  two  regiments  advanced,  drove  the  rebel 
skirmish  line  before  them  for  about  a  mile,  and  finally  struck  the 
right  of  the  rebel  line,  strongly  entrenched  on  the  top  of  a  high 
hill.  This  was  the  position  afterward  known  as  "  the  bloody 
angle."  The  two  regiments  attacked  vigorously,  but  were  forced 
back  by  a  heavy  musketry  and  artillery  fire.  Two  more  regiments 
were  sent  to  their  assistance,  and  again  they  attacked,  but  with 
no  better  success,  and  they  were  compelled  to  be  content  with 
holding  the  position  they  had  gained  in  an  unequal  contest.  The 
characteristic  orders  under  which  they  were  acting,  issued  by  an 
able  general  officer,  afterward  killed,  and  sadly  missed,  were — 
"  Fight !  Fight !  -  -  it,  fight ! "  Two  days  later,  this  was 

found  to  be  the  strongest  field-work  ever  attacked  by  the  army. 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day,  (the  10th,)  a  series  of  assaults 
was  organized  along  the  different  corps  lines.  The  Second 
Division  of  the  Second  Corps,  which  had  come  up  by  the  cross 
roads  taken  as  above  related,  was  to  make  the  charge  on  the 
extreme  left,  and  the  two  detached  regiments  reported  to,  and 
participated  in  the  charge  with  it.  Only  one  of  these  assaults  was 
successful,  (that  of  the  Sixth  Corps,)  and  the  line  of  works  and 
many  of  the  prisoners  captured  by  it  had  to  be  abandoned,  owing 
to  the  failure  of  the  attacks  to  the  right  and  left.  That  on  the 
left  being  unsuccessful,  and  the  troops  retiring  from  the  hill,  left 
the  two  detached  regiments  again  alone  to  hold  the  ground  which 
had  cost  them  a  severe  struggle.  This  they  did  until  relieved 
after  dark,  when,  rejoining  their  brigade,  they  left  the  position  to 
the  Second  Corps,  all  of  which  was  concentrated  there  on  the 
night  of  the  llth. 

On  the  12th  came  one  of  the  most  stubbornly-contested  strug 
gles  of  the  war.  It  was  for  the  possession  of  the  "  bloody  angle  " 


12 

which  the  Fifteenth  and  First  had  repeatedly  attacked  two  days 
previously.  The  first  charge  was  made  by  the  Second  Corps 
early  in  the  morning,  took  the  rebels  by  surprise,  carried  a  part 
of  the  line  of  works,  captured  several  thousand  prisoners  and  a 
large  number  of  guns.  The  Sixth  Corps  was  moved  to  the  posi 
tion  as  soon  as  practicable,  to  complete  the  victory,  the  enemy 
having  recovered  from  the  shock  and  concentrated  his  forces. 
The  First  Division  was  ordered  to  attack  first,  to  the  right  of  the 
Second  Corps,  in  echelon  of  brigades,  the  First  Brigade  on  the 
right,  and  the  Fifteenth  Kegiment  on  the  extreme  right  of  the 
front  line.  It  was  placed  in  position,  in  a  wood  of  low  pines,  by 
a  superior  officer,  in  a  drizzling  rain.  At  the  order  to  charge,  it 
dashed  gallantly  forward  with  bayonets  fixed,  and  trailed  to 
escape  the  low  branches,  into  the  narrow  strip  of  open  ground, 
upon  the  opposite  margin  of  which  was  the  rebel  intrenched  line, 
covered  with  an  abattis  of  slashed  brush.  Its  line  being  very 
oblique  to  that  of  the  enemy,  it  was  compelled  to  execute  a  half- 
wheel,  under  a  most  murderous  fire.  Again  it  dashed  forward, 
carried  the  work  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet,  (and  with  some 
actual  bayonet  fighting,  a  very  unusual  thing,)  captured  a  stand 
of  colors  and  all  the  rebels  who  did  not  fall  or  run.  It  was  the 
only  regiment  of  the  Sixth  Corps  which  got  inside  the  enemy's 
fortifications  that  day.  Its  right  flank,  however,  being  entirely 
"in  the  air,"  and  a  solid  rebel  line  moving  toward  it,  subjected  to 
the  continued  fire  from  a  second  rebel  work  in  front  and  from 
the  numerous  "  traverses "  of  the  line  to  the  left  which  had  not 
been  carried,  it  was  compelled  to  retire  again  to  the  wood.  This 
desperate  charge  was  made  at  fearful  cost.  More  than  half  of  the 
rank  and  file,  and  seven  of  the  most  valued  officers  fell,  killed  or 
wounded,  inside  or  near  the  hostile  works.  Out  of  four  hundred 
and  twenty-nine  men  and  fourteen  line  officers  who  crossed  the 
Rapidan  on  the  4th,  only  one  hundred  and  twenty-two  men  and 
four  officers  remained. 

It  has  been  said  that  the  other  brigades  did  not  get  actual  pos 
session  of  the  works  in  their  front.  They  did,  however,  gain  and 
hold  a  position  so  near  as  to  command  and  hold  them  under  their 
guns,  until  abandoned  during  the  night.  How  obstinate  and 
determined  was  the  rebel  defence  was  shown  by  the  fact  that  the 
trench,  full  three  feet  deep,  was,  in  places,  even  full  of  rebel  dead, 
and  a  pavement  of  mud  covering  the  uppermost  bodies,  told  how 
they  had  stood  upon  their  fallen  comrades  and  continued  the 


13 

fight.  A  large  white  oak  tree  was  cut  off  by  bullets  even  with  the 
top  of  the  breastwork,  and  in  its  fall  pinned  one  rebel  soldier  to 
the  ground. 

From  Spottsylvania  to  Petersburg — a  sanguinary  track,  with 
every  here-and-there  a  fierce  encounter  with  the  foe — thence,  in 
July,  to  Washington,  where  Early  was  met  at  the  head  of  Seventh 
street ;  thence  into  the  Shenandoah  Valley,  under  Sheridan,  the 
regiment  shared  the  successes  'and  failures,  the  honors  and  losses, 
of  the  army  and  corps.  It  was  often  detached  for  special  service  of 
responsibility  and  danger.  In  the  pursuit  of  Early's  flying  troops 
from  the  gates  of  Washington,  it  became  necessary  to  send  a  force 
across  to  the  parallel  road  on  which  the  enemy  were  moving,  to 
ascertain  the  position  of  the  rear  of  their  column,  and  verify  a 
suspected  intention  on  their  part  to  halt  and  strike  in  flank  our 
rapidly-advancing  column.  The  Fifteenth  New  Jersey  was  sent 
upon  that  mission,  and  executed  it  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  corps 
commander,  but  found  no  such  design  on  the  part  of  the  enemy. 
A  few  days  later,  Early  contested  the  crossing  of  the  Shenandoah 
at  Snicker's  Ford,  and  it  was  desired  to  examine  the  fords  lower 
down  the  river.  The  Fifteenth  was  again  sent,  tested  the  fords, 
the  depth  of  water,  bed  of  the  stream,  &c.,  under  a  skirmish  fire, 
and  returned  with  its  information — which  was  not  needed,  as  the 
upper  ford  was  abandoned  by  the  enemy  during  the  night. 

At  Winchester,  on  the  17th  of  August,  whilst  Sheridan  was 
retiring  before  Early's  army,  reinforced  by  Longstreet,  (not 
because  unable  to  cope  with  it,  but  because  under  orders  from 
Grant  not  to  accept  or  deliver  battle  at  that  time,)  the  First 
Brigade  was  left,  with  the  cavalry,  to  obstruct  their  march  whilst 
our  army  was  crossing  the  Opequan  and  getting  into  position. 
The  Fifteenth  Kegiment  was  deployed  into  a  skirmish  line,  and 
posted  across  the  turnpike  by  which  they  were  approaching,  the 
other  regiments  being  posted  farther  to  the  left.  From  noon  until 
nearly  dark  it  held  them  in  check,  with  the  assistance  of  two 
squadrons  (dismounted)  of  the  Third  New  Jersey  Cavalry,  delud 
ing  them  into  the  belief  that  Sheridan's  whole  army  was  there  in 
position  to  receive  their  attack.  The  men  were  carefully  posted 
along  a  small  stream,  behind  stone  fences,  trees,  and  rocks.  Two 
rebel  skirmish  lines  successively  pushed  against  them,  soon 
retired,  being  badly  punished,  and  Early's  army  ployed  into 
columns  of  attack.  There  was  something  seriously  ludicrous  in 
the  sight.  Twenty  thousand  rebels  could  be  distinctly  seen  from 


14 

the  hills  on  which  our  right  rested,  carefully  forming  to  attack  a 
feeble  line  of  skirmishers.  Our  brigade  numbered  but  eight 
hundred  and  fifty  muskets,  all  told ;  no  supports  but  the  color- 
guards.  The  cavalry,  massed  to  the  rear,  could  render  no  assist 
ance  against  heavy  columns  of  infantry.  Whilst  the  formation 
was  proceeding,  the  stubborn  skirmish  continued,  and,  as  we 
afterward  learned,  Early  decided  to  postpone  the  attack  until  the 
next  day.  Just  before  dark,  however,  Breckenridge,  who  com 
manded  Early's  left  division,  was  led  in  some  way  to  suspect  the 
weakness  of  the  force  before  him,  and  obtained  permission  to  put 
his  left  brigade  in  charge.  The  solid  mass  plunged  directly 
through  our  attenuated  line  of  one  man  to  every  five  or  ten  paces; 
then  brigade  after  brigade  charged  in  echelon  from  their  left  to 
right.  The  fighting  qualities  of  men  were  seldom  more  severely 
tested.  It  was  easy  to  get  away,  but  to  hold  the  enemy  on  the 
right,  or  so  obstruct  them  that  the  other  regiments  posted  to  the 
left  could  get  out,  was  a  serious  problem.  The  line  was  rallied 
and  re-formed,  from  one  stone  fence  to  another.  In  the  darkness 
the  men  sometimes  became  intermingled  with  the  enemy,  a  Union 
officer,  at  one  time,  assuming  command  of  a  rebel  regiment. 
About  eleven  o'clock,  in  the  outskirts  of  the  city,  the  contest  was 
finally  given  up,  all  the  left  getting  away  but  a  detachment  of  the 
Tenth,  which  got  lost  in  the  darkness,  and  a  few  men  of  the  Fif 
teenth  and  Fourth,  surrounded  unawares. 

On  the  19th  of  September  came  the  battle  of  the  Opequan — 
generally  known  as  the  battle  of  Winchester.  Viewed  in  all  its 
relations,  it  was  one  of  the  most  important  of  the  war.  At  the 
first  onset  of  Sheridan's  army,  the  enemy  were  forced  some 
distance  from  their  position  ;  but  the  impetus  of  the  assault  being 
broken  by  an  obstinate  resistance,  the  Union  lines  retired  a  short 
distance,  and  the  enemy  made  a  counter  advance.  The  Fifteenth 
was  pushed  forward  on  a  double-quick,  across  a  ravine,  to  take 
possession  of  a  hill  and  obstruct  their  advance,  whilst  the  lines 
were  being  reorganized.  It  was  a  perilous  duty  gallantly  dis 
charged.  One  of  our  division  commanders  said  the  movement 
saved  the  day.  The  re-formed  lines  again  advanced,  gathering 
up  the  Fifteenth  in  their  progress,  and  Early  was  sent  "  whirling 
up  the  valley." 

Three  days  later,  (on  the  22d,)  at  Fisher's  Hill,  which  they 
regarded  as  an  impregnable  position,  the  First  New  Jersey 
Brigade  was  designated  to  lead  the  charge,  being  about  the  centre 


15 

of  the  corps  line.  Sweeping  down  through  a  ravine,  clambering 
up  the  opposite  rocks  to  the  grassy  slope  which  fronted  the  rebel 
line,  under  a  perfect  storm  of  bullets,  which  fortunately  passed 
almost  wholly  just  over  their  heads,  they  rushed  up  to  and  entered 
the  works  in  advance  of  any  other  troops,  capturing  a  number  of 
guns,  and  pursued  the  flying  enemy  across  the  plain  until  dark 
ness  covered  their  retreat.  It  was  the  first  brigade  re-formed 
after  the  long  charge,  and  ready  for  the  night  march  in  pursuit. 

At  Cedar  Creek,  on  the  19th  of  October — another  famous  vic 
tory — after  the  left  of  the  Union  line,  composed  of  parts  of  the 
Eighth  and  Nineteenth  Corps,  had  been  routed  by  the  enemy's 
successfully  executed  surprise  before  daylight,  the  Sixth  Corps 
moved  rapidly  by  a  flank  across  the  track  of  their  advance,  and 
the  Jersey  Brigade  occupied  the  most  advanced  and  difficult  posi 
tion,  holding  it  firmly  under  severe  fire.  Once  it  was  ordered 
back  to  the  general  alignment,  but  its  former  place  being  consid 
ered  a  key  position,  it  was  ordered  to  retake  it,  which  it  did,  and 
held  it  tenaciously  and  successfully,  until  again  ordered  to  retire, 
with  the  whole  corps,  to  the  new  line  selected  for  strategic 
reasons,  (the  first  having  been  assumed  in  the  haste  and  confusion 
of  the  morning.)  This  was  no  "rout,"  as  represented  by  a  popular 
ballad,  but  a  movement  deliberately  planned  and  executed  by 
Gen.  "Wright,  in  the  absence  of  Sheridan,  who,  upon  arrival, 
after  his  famous  •'*  ride,"  found  the  corps  in  a  well  formed-line, 
and  quietly  taking  their  luncheon,  preparatory  to  the  counter 
attack  of  the  afternoon,  which  routed  the  army  seven  times 
encountered  within  four  months,  captured  a  considerable  part  of 
it,  with  guns  and  colors,  and  ended  its  existence  as  a  separate 
command.  In  this  battle,  one  of  the  three  field  officers  of  the 
Fifteenth  was  killed,  and  the  other  two  wounded  ;  the  line,  rank 
and  file,  suffered  severely. 

From  Cedar  Creek,  back  to  the  main  army  before  Petersburg, 
through  the  remaining  operations  there,  including  the  final  assault 
and  capture  of  Petersburg  and  Richmond,  along  the  rapid  pursuit 
to  Appomatox,  we  cannot  follow  the  regiment  in  detail.  We  have 
already  exceeded  our  limits.  We  must  content  ourselves  with 
saying  that,  throughout  these,  and  those  of  previous  campaigns 
which  have  been  passed  over  without  mention,  it  always  did  its 
duty.  In  the  long  marches,  by  night  and  day,  in  summer's  heat 
and  winter's  cold,  through  loamy  mud  and  mucky  swarnp,  in  rain 
and  snow,  over  frozen  hummocks  or  glaze  of  ice,  burdened  with 


16 

arms,  ammunition,  rations,  accoutrements  and  equipments,  often 
pressed  to  the  limit  of  human  endurance,  it  was  always  in  its 
place,  and  cheerfully  responded  to  the  word  of  command.  In  the 
numerous  minor  fights  and  skirmishes,  which  often  try  the  soldier 
more  than  the  general  engagement,,  it  did  what  was  expected  of 
it.  In  the  death-grapples  of  army  with  army,  from  1862  to  1865, 
it  bore  the  stars  and  stripes  with  honor  and  distinction.  No 
regiment  fought  with  more  tenacious  courage,  or  presented  a 
more  steady  and  unbroken  front  to  the  foe.  Where  the  fire  was 
hottest,  the  charge  most  impetuous,  the  resistance  most  stubborn, 
the  carnage  most  fearful,  it  was  found.  It  was  never  ordered  to 
take  a  position  that  it  did  not  reach  it.  It  was  never  required  to 
hold  a  post  that  it  did  not  hold  it.  It  never  assaulted  a  line  of 
the  enemy  that  it  did  not  drive  it.  It  never  charged  a  rebel  work 
that  it  did  not  breach  it.  Whatever  might  be  the  general  result, 
the  Fifteenth  New  Jersey  Volunteers  always  performed  the  part 
assigned  it. 

The  sad  part  of  the  story — that  at  which  eyes  will  moisten  and 
hearts  ache — must  be  told  in  few  lines.  Such  a  record  must  be 
traced  in  blood.  When  the  roll  is  called,  three  hundred  and 
sixty-one  times  it  must  be  answered,  "  Dead  on  the  field  of 
honor."  They  gave  their  lives  for  the  Union,  for  their  country, 
for  the  cause  of  human  liberty.  Their  names  should  be  written 
in  gold,  and  hallowed  by  a  grateful  people  with  affectionate 
remembrance.  No  other  regiment  from  New  Jersey  suffered  nearly 
so  heavy  a  loss,  though  most  were  much  larger  in  numbers.  Add 
to  this  "  roll  of  honor  "  the  unknown  number  of  those  crippled  by 
wounds  and  wasted  by  incurable  disease;  remember  that  they 
came  chiefly  from  the  original  nine  hundred  and  forty-seven,  and 
some  idea  may  be  formed  of  the  horrid  work  of  war.  It  is  often 
a  source  of  painful  reflections  to  look  back  over  the  history  of  this 
regiment  and  think  of  the  large  number  of  promising  young  men, 
many  of  them  the  brightest,  bravest,  purest,  and  best  of  our 
State,  who  fell  along  its  bloody  pathway,  from  Fredericksburg  to 
Appomattox.  Who  can  estimate  their  value  to  our  State  and 
country,  if  living  ?  Fallen,  who  can  compute  the  loss  ? 


CASUALTIES 


DURING   THE 


WILDERNESS   CAMPAIGN 


( Correspondence  of  the  Sussex  Register*. ) 

SUNDAY,  May  15,  1864. 

I  send  you  a  list  of  casualties  in  our  regiment  up  to  the  pres 
ent  time.  Most  of  those  reported  missing,  are  most  likely  killed 
or  wounded  and  prisoners.  The  desperation  of  our  fighting  has 
never  been  equalled  in  this  war.  Our  brigade  is  nearly  used  up. 
Col.  Ryerson  of  the  10th  N.  J.,  is  killed,  and  Lieut.  Col.  Tay* 
a  prisoner.  Lieut.  Col.  Wiebecke  of  the  2d,  was  killed  yester 
day.  Capt.  H.  P.  Cooke  of  the  2d,  is  a  prisoner;  Col.  H.  W. 
Brown  of  the  3d  N.  J.,  is  wounded.  Capt.  Van  Blarcom  was 
lost  in  a  charge  on  Sunday  last.  Capt.  Walker,  Capt.  Shimer, 
Lieut.  Van  Voy,  and  Lieut.  Justice  were  killed  in  a  charge  on 
Thursday,  the  12th  inst.  Capt.  McDanolds  was  wounded  at  the 
same  time  thro'  the  jaw  and  both  legs,  one  of  which  has  been 
amputated.  Lieut.  H.  M.  Fowler  was  wounded  at  same  time; 
also,  Lieut.  Penrose.  Capt.  Hamiltonf  was  wounded  on  the  6th 
inst.,  thro'  both  thighs  (flesh  wound.)  Capt.  Vanderveer  had 
the  fingers  of  his  left  hand  shot  off.  A  part  of  the  10th  B,egt. 
and  a  part  of  the  2d,  were  captured  yesterday  while  on  picket. 
Lt.  Col.  Wiebecke  was  wounded  and  left  on  the  field — the  rebels 
found  and  shot  him  and  stripped  him  entirely  naked.  We  are 
very  busy,  and  on  duty  night  and  day.  All  of  us  are  nearly 
worn  out.  We  suppose  that  we  are  beating  the  enemy,  but  there 
is  much  confusion  of  reports,  &c.  As  I  write  this  we  are  lying 

*Liet.  Col.  Tay  has  since  been  recaptured  from  the  enemy,  and  is  now  with  his  regi 
ment.        fCapt.  Hamilton  has  since  died  of  his  wound. 


18 

about  a  mile  and  a  half  from  Spottsylvania  Court  House,  on  the 
extreme  left  of  our  lines.  Sergt.  Van  Gilder,  Co.  K,  will  die 
of  his  wound — a  canister  shot  in  the  side — the  ball  remaining. 
Albert  L.  Carmer,  Co.  D,  will  most  likely  die — shot  through 
the  lungs.  There  are  many  badly  wounded.  Our  regiment  cap 
tured  a  battle-flag  from  the  rebels.  We  took  it  off  their  breast 
works.  Excuse  this  rather  confused  statement;  it  is  as  good  as 
I  can  do  in  the  time  I  have. 

Very  respectfully, 

MARSHALL  B.  STULL. 


KILLED,    WOUNDED    AND    MISSING, 

DURING     THE     SERIES     OF     BATTLES     FOUGHT     IN     SPOTTSYLVANIA     COUNTY, 
VA.,    FROM    MAY    4TH    TO    MAY    15TH,    1864. 

COMPANY  A. 


Capt.  C.  C.  Shimer,  killed. 

Sergt.  Paul  Kuhl,  killed. 

Sergt.  Lucien  A.  Voorhees,  killed. 

Lieut.  George  C.  Justice  killed. 

Sergt.  William  B.  Dungan,  wounded. 

Corp.  John  F.  Servis,  wounded. 

Corp.  Jonathan  P.  Collins,  killed. 

Corp.  Joseph  Kunkle,  wounded. 

Private  David  Allgard,  missing. 

David  Anthony,  killed. 

Jacob  Apgar,  killed. 

Jacob  Bryan,  wounded. 

William  B.  Bryan,  wounded. 

John  Butler,  wounded. 

John  Burns,  wounded. 

John  Brogan,  killed. 

Jacob  Beam,  wounded  and  missing. 

George  S.  Beaver,  wounded. 

Andrew  Closson,  missing. 

Isaac  Dayton,  missing. 

Joseph  Dawes,  missing. 

Joseph  Everett,  killed. 

John  Evans,  missing. 

William  Gulick,  wounded. 

Geo.  P.  Henderson,  killed. 


Lewis  Higgins,  missing. 

William  L.  Higgins,  wounded. 

Silas  Hockenberry,  killed. 

Lemuel  Hockenberry,  wounded. 

Moses  Housel,  missing. 

John  W.  Henry,  wounded  and  missing. 

Herman  Helmbold,  killed. 

Garret  Hogao,  missing. 

Henry  P.  Johnson,  wounded. 

John  Moser,  wounded. 

Van  Meter  P.  Hammet,  wounded. 

Cornelius  I.  Nevius,  killed. 

William  N.  Peer,  killed. 

James  C.  Palmer,  wounded. 

John  Kouch,  wounded. 

George  Kessler.  wounded. 

Robert  Sorter,  wounded. 

Joseph  Sullivan,  wounded. 

Henry  C.  Smith,  killed. 

Charles  Scherer,  killed. 

Charles  E.  Smiley,  wounded. 

Theodore  Stammets,  wounded. 

John  Staats,  missing. 

Abram  Trauger,  wounded. 

Peter  I.  Tenbroeck,  wounded. 


19 


COMPANY  B. 


Capt.  J.  S.  McDanolds,  wounded. 

Sergt.  E.  B.  Nicholas,  wounded,  thigh. 

Sergt.  Samuel  B.  Danly,  wounded,  leg. 

Sergt.  C.  W.  Beegle,  wounded. 

Corp.  D.  Sharp,  wounded. 

Corp.  John  L.  Young,  killed. 

Private  John  H.  Allen,  wounded,  hand. 

James  I).  Baylor,  killed. 

W.  K.  Barker,  wounded. 

T.  H.  Barker,  missing. 

F.  M.  Beegle,  wounded. 

George  Bilby,  wounded,  dangerously. 

H.  H.  Carr,  wounded,  leg. 

Thomas  Dougherty,  wounded. 

James  Egbert,  missing. 

Frank  S.  Fernald,  killed. 

H.  J.  V.  Heed,  wounded. 

A.  G.  King,  killed. 


Charles  Hand,  wounded,  knee. 
William  Lippencott,  wounded,  leg. 
Thomas  Mitchell,  wounded,  hand. 
John  Mott,  wounded. 
Jared  P.  Minton,  missing. 
John  Ogden  Martin,  killed. 
William  Schenck,  wounded,  head. 
Clinton  Swick,  wounded,  knee. 
A.  R.  Skinner,  wounded. 
William  Sidner,  killed. 
John  Sherer,  wounded. 
Patrick  Timmons,  wounded. 
Charles  K.  Vought,  killed. 
George  Vossler,  killed. 
O.  W.  Vossler,  killed. 
S.  S.  Van  Ness,  wounded. 
George  Welter,  killed. 
John  A.  Wilson,  wounded. 


COMPANY  C. 


Capt.  Lewis  Van  Blarcom,  missing. 
Lieut.  William  W.  Van  Voy,  killed. 
Sergt.  John  Van  Houten,  killed. 
Corp.  William  Trelease,  wounded  and 

missing. 

Corp.  Manuel  Johnson,  wounded. 
Corp.  John  A.  Cliff,  missing. 
Color  Sergt.  Samuel  Rubadon,  killed. 
Sergt.  Israel  D.  Lum,  wounded. 
Private  Lewis  Turner,  wounded. 
William  Bailey,  missing. 
William  D.  Briggs,  missing. 
Jeremiah  Haycock,  killed. 
Andrew  J.  Jennings,  killed. 


John  Guy,  killed. 
Edwin  C.  Reger,  killed. 
John  Rutan,  killed. 
John  Miller,  killed. 
Edgar  A.  Farrand,  killed. 
Moses  Laramie,  missing. 
Charles  H.  Guerin,  wounded. 
Samuel  D.  Doty,  wounded. 
George  Hull,  wounded. 
Dennis  Heffron,  wounded. 
Alfred  Mills  Armstrong,  wounded. 
Silas  Trowbridge,  wounded. 
Lewis  L.  Davis,  wounded. 


COMPANY  D. 


Capt.  James  Walker,  killed. 
Sergt.  William  Doland,  wounded, arm. 
Corp.  Sanford  Simmons,  wounded  seri 
ously. 

Corp.  Pe    r  Gunderman,  wounded. 
Corp.  Wilbur  F.  Harris,  killed. 
Corp.  George  Dennis,  killed. 
Corp.  James  II.  Terwilleger,  missing. 
Private  Albert  L.  Carmer,  wounded. 
Private  George  T.  Fallin,  killed. 


Leonard  Decker,  killed. 
George  W.  Shipps,  wounded. 
Jacob  South,  wounded. 
Wilson  T.  Labar,  wounded. 
Austin  Meeker,  wounded,  bowels. 
Wesley  M.  Ayres,  missing. 
Isaac  Sharp,  missing. 
William  S.  Wooster,  missing. 
William  C.  Dickerson,  missing. 
Lorenzo  D.  Fulford,  missing. 


20 


COMPANY  D.— Continued. 


Patrick  Hughes,  killed. 
John  Hubbard.  missing. 
Abraham  Johnson,  killed. 
Alfred  B.  Jackson,  missing. 
John  Moran,  missing. 
William  Stuart,  wounded. 
Joseph  E.  Rogers,  wounded. 
Abm.  Hendershot,  wounded. 
David  Hendershot,  wounded. 
John  Bowman,  wounded,  slight. 


Alpheus  Decker,  wounded. 
John  Emery,  wounded. 
Martin  Eredericks,  killed. 
John  Hopkins,  wounded. 
Barnard  Johnson,  wounded. 
James  Mangan,  missing. 
Patrick  Mullen,  killed. 
John  M.  Minion,  missing. 
William  A.  Ward,  killed. 
Stephen  Ilankins,  wounded. 


COMPANY  E. 
Capt.  John  H.  Vauderveer,  wounded.     Erancis  Hughes,  wounded. 


Sergt.  Benj.  O.  Scudder,  killed. 
Sergt.  Garret  I.  Schenck,  wounded. 
Corp.  Daniel  Richardson,  killed. 
Sergt.  Wm.  C.  E.  Gulick,  killed. 
Private  Abm.  D.  Baird,  wounded. 
Peter  S.  Bennet,  wounded. 
Nicholas  Conover,  killed.    ^ 
Andrew  Cranney,  missing. 
Peter  Dennis,  killed. 
William  K.  Dow,  wounded. 


John  H.  Jones,  wounded. 
James  McKensey,  killed. 
Thomas  McConral,  wounded. 
Benjamin  Moulton,  wounded. 
John  WT.  Priestley,  wounded. 
William  H.  Rose,  killed. 
Jeremiah  Slack,  wounded. 
George  Thompson,  wounded. 
John  L.  S.  Van  Doren,  wounded. 


COMPANY  P. 


Capt.  Ellis  Hamilton,  wounded. 
Lieut.  James  W.  Penrose,  wounded. 
Sergt.  Enos  G.  Budd,  wounded. 
Sergt.  PhineasH.Skellinger,  wounded. 
Sergt.  Lewis  H.  Salmon,  wounded. 
Corp.  Alonzo  Heddin,  wounded. 
Corp.    Joseph    K.    Crater,    wounded, 

stomach. 
Corp.  Charles  L.  Milligan,  wounded, 

leg. 

Corp.  W.  H.  K.  Emrnans,  wounded. 
Corp.  Peter  J.  Sutton,  wounded,  slight. 
Private  Joseph  Anthony,  wounded,  leg. 
Henry  H.  Berry,  wounded,  breast. 


Charles  Covert,  killed. 
George  D.  Foulds,  killed. 
Isaiah  Erutchey,  wounded. 
James  M.  Ingle,  wounded. 
Abm.  Jacobus,  wounded,  slight. 
David  C.  Lantz,  wounded,  leg. 
Whitfield  Lake,  wounded,  arm. 
James  Latteret,  wounded,  head. 
Andrew  J.  Opdyke,  wounded,  back. 
Frank  H.  O'Neil,  wounded. 
Jacob  A.  Peck  well,  killed. 
Andrew  E.  Salmon,  wounded,  body. 
Lawrence  H.  Wise,  wounded,  shoulder. 
Elias  Williamson,  killed. 


COMPANY  G. 

Lieut.  Henry  M.  Eowler,  wounded.  Sergt.  Jacob  E.  Thatcher,  wounded. 

Sergt.  William  E.  Trimmer,  killed.  Corp.  John  Bocock,  wounded. 

Sergt.  Jacob  J.  Lair,  wounded.  Corp.  John  Garren,  missing. 

Sergt.  William  M.  Thompson,  killed.  Private  William   Ash  croft,  wounded. 


21 

COMPANY  G-.— Continued. 

Nathan  Culver,  wounded.  John  M.  Smith  killed. 

George  Haney,  missing.  Levi  Stall,  killed. 

Cornelius  King',  missing.  William  H.  Wyckoff,  Wounded. 

Simeon  G.  Peddrick,  missing.  George  D.  Wagoner,  wounded. 

John  Reisinger,  wounded.  James  C.  Myers,  wounded. 

COMPANY  H. 

Sergt.  John  B.  Lunger,  killed.  Jacob  L.  Lunger,  wounded,  hand. 

Corp.  James  O.  Dufford,  killed.  Samuel  Trimmer,  wounded,  hand. 

Corp.  Albert  II.  Greely,  killed.  William  Black,  wounded,  neck. 

Sergt.  James  Donnelly,  wounded.  Simon  W.  Van  Horn,  wounded. 

Corp.  John  Mowder,  wounded.  Garner  H.  Deremer,  wounded. 

Corp.  William  G.  Bailey,  wounded.  George  Dufford,  wounded. 

Private  James  Murphy,  killed.  Jacob  D.  Garretson,  wounded. 

William  E.  Archer,  killed.  David  Hoffman,  wounded. 

William  J.  Bodine,  killed.  Edward  E.  Kitchell,  wounded. 

William  S.  Cearfos,  killed.  Isaac  Medick,  wounded,  arm  off. 

Joseph  B.  Steele,  killed.  John  Slack,  wounded. 

William  Crotsley,  wounded.  Isaac  K.  Deremer,  missing. 

Abm.  Rush,  wounded.  William  Howard,  missing. 
William  Seguine,  wounded. 

COMPANY  I. 

Sergt.  James  E.  Cole,  killed.  Ephraim  Shay,  wounded. 

Sergt.  Charles  C.  Simpson,  killed.  Alfred  J.  Taylor,  wounded. 

Corp.  John  K.  Fretz,  killed.  John  Drake,  wounded. 

Corp.  William  WTeed,  killed.  Annanias  Drake,  wounded,  breast. 

Corp.  William  H.  Case,  missing.  Austin  Gunderman,  wounded,  leg. 

Private  David  Moore,  killed.  Henry  I.  Hendershot,  wounded. 

Nicholas  V.  Bennet,  wounded.  Nelson  S.  Hardick,  wounded,  slight. 

Edward  Dardis,  killed.  Henry  Martin,  wounded. 

John  Gunderman,  killed.  Ira  M.  Stuart,  wounded,  hand. 

John  A.  Hunterdon,  wounded.  Nathan  Earles  wounded  in  seven  places. 

John  D.  Padgett,  wounded.  Moses  Fenner,  missing. 

William  N.  Padgett,  missing.  Elijah  Pelton,  missing. 

COMPANY  K. 

Sergt.  Martin  C.  Van  Gilder,  wounded.  William  Flannigan,  wounded. 

Sergt.  James  W.  Mullery,  wounded.  Benjamin  M.  Hough,  wounded. 

Corp.  Peter  Smith,  wounded.  Mordecai  W.  Holly,  wounded,  arm. 

Corp.  James  Cassedy,  wounded.  Lewis  L.  Kent,  killed. 

Private  Isaac  Byram,  wounded,  head.  James  Lacy,  missing. 

Monmouth  Boyd,  wounded,  arm  and  Sidney  N.  Monks,  killed. 

side.  Jesse  Mullery,  wounded,  dangerously. 

Chileon  Brown,  wounded.  Bowdewine  Meddaugh,  wounded. 

Seaman  Conklin,  missing.  Isaac  Paddock,  wounded. 

John  Card,  Jr.,  wounded.  Frederick  Van  Riper,  wounded,  hip. 
Daniel  L.  Coykendall,  missing. 

Total  officers  and  men  killed,  76  ;  wounded,  162  ;  missing,  41.     In  all,  279. 


22 

Since  the  foregoing  was  in  type,  we  have  received  a  list  of 
the  killed  and  wounded,  drawn  up  by  Chaplain  Haines,  which 
differs  in  a  few  particulars.  For  instance — 

In  Co.  B — the  Chaplain  puts  down  A.  G.  King  as  wounded, 
and  O.  W.  Vossler  wounded  and  missing. 

In  Co.  C — Capt.  Lewis  Van  JBlarcom,  wounded  and  missing. 

In  Co.  D — John  Hubbard,  wounded;  John  Moran,  killed; 
Abraham  Johnson,  missing;  Barney  Johnson,  wounded  in  both 
arms  and  missing. 

In  Co.  G — Lieut.  H.  M.  Fowler,  missing. 

In  Co.  H — Jacob  Garretson,  killed. 

In  Co.  I — Sergt.  James  E.  Cole,  wounded  and  missing;  David 
Moore,  do. ;  Alfred  J.  Taylor,  do. ;  Elijah  Pelton,  wounded. 

In  Co.  K — Win.  Flannigan,  missing;    Benj.  M.  Hough,  do. 

By  comparing  these  returns  with  the  list  made  out  by  M.  B. 
Stull,  the  variations  will  be  seen.  We  do  not  know  which  of 
the  returns  is  the  more  correct.  Both  have  been  very  carefully 
compiled. 

[When  the  army  crossed  the  Rapidan  on  the  2d  inst.,  the  15th 
regiment  mustered  about  450  officers  and  men.  After  the  series 
of  battles  from  the  4th  to  the  15th  inst.,  there  were  but  157  fit 
for  duty  left.] 


FIFTEENTH    REGIMENT    NEW    JERSEY 
VOLUNTEERS. 


Officers  originally  mustered 38 

EnHsted  men  originally  mustered 909 

Officers  gained 72 

Enlisted  men  gained 852 

Total  strength 1871 

Officers  mustered  out , 18 

Enlisted  men  mustered  out 398 

Officers  resigned 26 

discharged 8 

promoted 33 

transferred 14 

died  from  diseases 1 

wounds 8 

dismissed 2 

Enlisted  men  discharged 189 

transferred  605 

promoted 43 

died  from  disease 98 

wounds 239 

in  prison 15 

deserted 108 

not  accounted  for 66 

Total...  1871 


LOSSES    BY    DEATH    OF    NEW  JERSEY    REGI 
MENTS  THAT  SERVED  THREE  YEARS. 


Number          Died             Died 
of                  of                  of 
Regiment.      Disease.       Wounds. 

^       ^ 

Prison. 

i 

1 

55                153 

19                  227 

! 

2 

39                100 

21                  160 

3 

48                160 

5                  213 

4 

74               158 

25                  257 

5 

66               138 

9                  213 

6 

48               122 

10                  180 

7 

107               135 

18                  260 

8 

94               173 

17                 284 

9 

114                 96 

44                 254 

12  Companies. 

10 

120               102 

52                  274 

11 

83                130 

20                  233 

j 

12 

72                175 

13                  260 

1 

13 

35                  68 

3                 106 

14 

71                146 

•    31    •             248 

i 

15 

99                247 

15                 361 

| 

Cavalry. 

1 

137                124 

37                  298 

12  Companies. 

2 

142                  52 

40                  234 

12  Companies. 

3 

49                  49 

47                 145 

12  Companies. 

25 


I— '  t— i  CD  COCOGOCDOGOI— iGOGOGOGOGCO 
CO  O  CO  O>  OS  CD  en  ^  GO  f— i  O1!  GO  OS  to  "^7  i—1 
t-^  en  GO  COGOCOCOOCOCn^-'tOOCO-— 'CO 


tO 
en 


£9,  ^  £9,     ^Ir-1^1-"^-1^^^ 

tO  CD  CO          GO  CO  i^-  CO  GO  O*  "^1  •M 


rCO—  7COCD 
tOCiCnGO-^ 


CO  CO  CO 
00  00  GO 


GOCDcDOCOtOOiCnCnOOll—  i 


CD  tO  CO 
CD  t— i  tO 
*»  CS  CD  GO  t— i  t-i 


t— it— '  4i.         tOtOCOh- 'tOtOCOCOCOtOtO 
*M  CO  tO         OS  O  tO  i-P^  4—-  <O  OS  en  <O  OS  CO 


to  i-*  cs  coi— i  to  i— 'h-'tocototototocoo^toto 

co~aco  co^enooooi— ii— 'Cncoososososr— >en 

tO        ~-7  ^-CntO        CD        COCOOCncoCOtOCnt— ' 

>__l  .       .  .       .     i t    , !  , t  t ,  ,_, 

Cn  CO  OS 


to  i-1 

GO  to  en      to 


tO  i-i        1-1 


-<I  GO 


^cococococococo 

OGOGO         CDOQOCD4:lGO_  i^  OO  tO  O  tO  tO  OS  tO  O^ 
tOCOi^.         OStOhf^tOCO*— ^CnCOrfi.Coen  tO  I— i 

>f^  os  oo en  GO  GO  cs_en  jo  ^>.  co  en  CD  co  GO  co  en  to 


GO  Cn 
^r  co 


s    I 

s  A 

§  p 

bd 


S 


Officers. 


Enlisted  Men. 


Officers. 


Enlisted  Men. 


Total  strength. 


Officers. 


s 

o  g 


Enlisted  Men. 


Resigned. 
Discharged. 


Promoted. 


Transferred. 


Died. 


Deserted. 


Dismissed. 


Not  accounted 
for. 


Discharged. 
Transferred. 


Promoted. 


Died. 


Deserted. 


Not  accounted 
for. 


Total. 


w 
o 


c 
r 


o 
z 

o 

^ 

z 

w 

t—  I 

w 

X3 
C0 

w 


w 
w 

K! 

w 


w 

Q 


CIRCULAR. 


Trenton,  N.  J.,  April,  1880. 
Comrade  : 

We  send  you  herewith  a  sketch  of  the  Old  Fifteenth, 
with  a  list  of  losses  in  the  Wilderness  Campaign,  and  a 
recapitulation  and  table  of  losses  by  death,  showing  the 
record  of  the  Fifteenth  as  a  fighting  regiment. 

It  has  been  suggested  by  several  comrades  that  there 
should  be  a  reunion  of  the  survivors  of  the  regiment  some 
time  during  the  coming  summer  or  fall.  Will  you  be  kind 
enough  to  write  us  your  views  as  to  time  and  place,  and 
whether  you  would  attend?  also  give  us  the  address  of  all 
members  of  the  regiment  in  your  vicinity. 

Yours  truly, 

JAMES  S.  MeDANOLDn, 
MANUEL  KLINE. 


URN 


,    DEPARTMENT 

202  Main  Library 


LOAN  PERIOD  1 
HOME  USE 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

ALL  BOOKS  MAY  BE  RECALLED  AFTER  7  DAYS 

Renewals  and  Recharges  may  be  made  4  days  prior  to  the  due  date. 

Books  may  be  Renewed  by  calling     642-3405. 

DUE  AS  STAMPED  BEmw~ 


JANlslQQ? 


\U  10  DISC 


JAN  1 4  i 


CIRCULATIONS 


AUTO  DISC  CIRC  Ot 

•'.';.  I  9  20QS 


0 1  '92 


FORM  NO.  DD6 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA,  BERKELEY 
BERKELEY,  CA  94720 


U.C.  BERKELEY  LIBRARIES 


M219184 


(L3 

THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 


